Oligarch Lebedev Mulling Asset Sale Due To Kremlin Pressure

Russian oligarch Aleksandr Lebedev says he is considering selling his business assets in Russia, where he fears a jail sentence in a criminal case he denounces as politically motivated.

He said on August 2 that potential buyers in Russia would be reluctant to buy any of his assets before the deals are approved by the Kremlin.

According to Lebedev, Russia could face a wave of political repression following a series of moves since Vladimir Putin returned to the presidency on May 7 that opposition leaders have described as a crackdown on dissent.

Lebedev, 52, owns a bank, the New Media holding in Russia, and supports Britain's "The Independent" and London's "Evening Standard" newspapers.